Istgenetica ~ Pavia

Tel. 23.029 ; 29.038 - Indirizzo telegrafico :

LLCS/1s

 

ISTITUTO DI GENETICA
UNIVERSITA DI PAVIA
VIA SANT’ EPIFANIO, 14

PAVIA

Dear Joshua,

28th January 1961

Prof. J. Lederberg
Department of Genetics,
Stanford, iledical School,

Palo Alto

Yesterday's call proved that satellites may
do a great deal of goof to humanity, because with the
present means communications across the Ocean are still
a problem. Whenever your words became important I could

understand only 10 or 20% of them.

Ruggero had told me had written to Holman
he might be available for a job. His situation is the fol-
lowing: although, thanks to the "concorso" he is now eligible
for a chair, there is none available immediately, and he
may have to wait one or two years. If he had to wait more
than two years he may lose the present advantage of eligibi-
lity. He has some other interesting possibilities in italy,
so it will not be an easy decision for him, although I am
sure he will take Stanford in very serious consideration;
how could he do otherwise? As far as my opinion goes,
I would have nothing against it, both from the point of view
of the interest of Stanford University, which would certainly
earn from his joining, and my personal interest. If I under-

stood you correctly,

this would not alter my chances of

a job there, and I think if we both were in the same Medical
school, especially one of the size of Stanford, our interests
are sufficiently complementary that we would not feel or act

competively.

As to my plans: it is easier for me not to take
any commitments until the Summer. I hope to see you for COSPAR
in Florence. Will you come? Motulsky wrote inviting me to
the Hawaii meeting. I have not yet decided about it. Will
you be in Stanford in August and would it be possible to
see you and spend a week there on my way on or off? The
meeting is scheduled for August 23.

Thanks for doing so much banking for me. You
Should by now have received the Interist fees; they will
always be a little late in January because they have to
go on the new year's budget, which starts January 10.
If you have not received them, let me know. Giovanni tells
me the fees will not include the $60 odd we owe you for
various reasons and which have not been forgotten; if that
is all right with you I will send you a personal check and
be reimbursed here. Giovanni is also sorry there is a delay
in sending the formulas of penicillanic acid derivatives: it
will take some more reminding at Lepetit to set them, Lepetit
is doing the fluorinations now; I will write as soon as results
will be available. The nitrous acid derivative which proved
toxic also after chromatography, has been tried in therapy tests,
and it was a failure (as expected). Re Sinisealco and Stanley
Wright. Was he there last Summer? I cannot recall him.
Siniscalco might be convenient for Kretschmer. On the other
hand he may feel the job is for a junior person. Have you
any idea about the salary?

Does your subtilis tend to swarm in any unplea-
Sant way at least in some conditions?

All the best to you and Esther,

LMrsae

L.L. Cavalli-Sforza